Voter Support for Williams Government Continues to Trend Higher

HALIFAX: The ruling Progressive Conservative government led by Premier Danny Williams has increased its lead in terms of voter support, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. Presently, the PC government garners the support of seven in ten (69%, up from 62% three months ago) decided Newfoundland and Labrador residents. Two in ten (18%, down from 25%) residents back the Liberals and one in ten (10%, compared with 9%) would vote for the NDP. The remaining 3 percent (compared with 4%) support none of these parties, do not plan to vote, or favour others. The number of Newfoundland residents who are undecided or refuse to state a preference has decreased by 4 percentage points to 15 percent.

Satisfaction with the performance of the PC government led by Premier Danny Williams has also increased in the past three months. Presently, eight in ten residents are completely (19%, compared with 21% in November 2005) or mostly (63%, up from 57%) satisfied with the performance of the provincial government. Close to two in ten are mostly (10%, compared with 13%) or completely (6%, compared with 5%) dissatisfied. The remaining 2 percent (compared with 3% three months ago) do not offer a definite opinion at this time.

PC leader Danny Williams’ personal popularity has increased in the past three months, with seven in ten (71%, up from 62%) NL residents naming Williams as their choice for Premier. One in ten (12%, compared with 15%) back Jim Bennett, the new leader of the Liberal Party. Backing for the next leader of the NDP is unchanged at 6 percent. Twelve percent (down from 17% three months ago) like none of these leaders, prefer others, or have no definite opinion.
These results are part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly, an independent, quarterly survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 401 Newfoundland and Labrador residents. The survey was conducted from February 14 to February 28, 2006, with results for the province accurate to within ±4.9 percentage points in 95 out of 100 samples.

For more information, please contact: Don Mills, CRA President and CEO, at (902) 421-1336.